Paula became a Foster carer after a career in estate agency: “the weekend working and irregular late evenings began to take their toll” – she told us. The work life balance is something a lot of people find attractive about working as foster carer – certainly this is something applicants to foster frequently tell us at Rainbow.

“I had an old school friend who had become a foster carer – and she told me that she found it so rewarding.” Paula also said that her friend had previously had a career involving a long commute into the city every day – which over time had affected the quality of her family life. She didn’t see that much of her own two boys, so deciding to foster really worked out. Her friend said she could now spend much more time with her family. They had fostered a boy who was the same age as their youngest son and the placement had worked out well from the start.

“Hearing that from my friend sort of made my mind up – I was at a stage in my life where I also wanted a change – not just to another job. I wanted to make a positive difference to someone’s life – just as she was doing.” 

It’s now six years since I became an ‘Approved’ foster carer. In that time I have had a number of emergency placements and also provided respite care. I feel good that I can do this as I know it gives Foster Carers a well earned break. Rainbow, along the way, have given me all the support I could have wanted. For the last eighteen months I have had Becky – a twelve-year-old girl – living with us. It has worked out very well and we are now seeing this very much as a long-term arrangement – after one or two “ups and downs” to begin with.

Knowing that I am truly making a difference to Becky’s life and supporting her schooling makes me feel hugely satisfied. She has been having flute lessons at school and she tells me she would love to play in a “grown-up” orchestra one day.

“One of the most amazing things you can do is to help a child find they have a talent for something and then help them make something of it – this changes their lives – as well as your own.”

Life is strange. In my former life as an estate agent, I was in and out of people’s homes all the time. I always got a sense of when I was in a “happy home” – fostering, I know, has certainly brought even more happiness to our family home.

Names and places have been changed to protect privacy.

More reasons to foster with Team Rainbow

You might be completely new to fostering or already an experienced foster carer thinking of a change and transferring. Deciding to join Team Rainbow means you will be joining an agency committed to offering you the best opportunities for training and career development. This is what we do so that we can enable our foster carers to make that crucial difference to a young person’s life. 

Opportunities to foster in Manchester and Birmingham

Every youngster is unique – as is every carer. Children’s needs vary and so do those of foster carers. At Rainbow, we understand this and being part of our community of foster carers ensures that your needs are also monitored and met.  We are currently looking to recruit more people to foster youngsters across London, Birmingham, Manchester and the South Coast.

Please contact us on 020 8427 3355 or 0330 311 2845 (our National Line)You can also find more general facts and information about what foster carers do at thttps://bit.ly/2OkgCzS Remember, if you live in Birmingham or Manchester. https://bit.ly/2zdLb4G and https://bit.ly/2SyrFIU

Catch up with all our Rainbow foster care news at https://bit.ly/2kJHpsO

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